PU vs Duco vs Laminate (and Acrylic, Veneer, Enamel): Which Finish for Wardrobes, Kitchens and Doors?

Short answer: laminate is the hard-wearing, budget-friendly default for wardrobes and kitchens. PU gives a seamless painted look in any colour (gloss or matt) and can be touched up, but costs more and needs a skilled painter. Duco is an older, cheaper painted finish that's less durable than PU. Acrylic gives a mirror gloss in sheet form. Veneer with polish gives real wood. Enamel paint is the cheapest painted finish, fine for doors and simple furniture. PU, duco and enamel go on MDF or HDHMR for a smooth face; laminate, acrylic and veneer go on plywood or HDHMR.

All six at a glance

Finish	Look	Scratches and wear	Kitchen use	Repair	Board underneath	Cost (relative)
Laminate (sunmica)	Hundreds of colours, wood and stone prints; matt, suede, gloss	Very good	Very good	Replace the sheet	Plywood, HDHMR	Low to medium
PU paint	Seamless, any colour; gloss or matt	Good; gloss shows scratches	Good with care	Can be sanded and resprayed	MDF, HDHMR	High
Duco	Painted gloss or matt	Fair; can yellow or chip with time	Fair	Respray	MDF, HDHMR	Medium
Acrylic	Mirror gloss sheet	Good; gloss shows fine scratches	Good	Replace the shutter face	Plywood, HDHMR	Medium to high
Veneer + PU polish	Real wood grain	Good once polished	Fair (keep dry)	Re-polish	Plywood	Medium to high
Enamel paint	Painted, matt or gloss	Fair	Fair	Repaint	MDF, plywood	Lowest

Laminate

The most common finish in Delhi homes, for good reason: tough, wipeable, and huge choice. 1mm on visible faces, liner inside, and edge band on every edge.

• Best for: wardrobes, kitchens, beds, TV units, shop counters.
• Watch for: joints and edges show; choose edge band to match. Laminate on both sides of shutters stops bending.
• Guides: how to choose laminate, sunmica vs laminate, why sunmica bubbles or peels.

PU (polyurethane) paint

Sprayed in several coats over primer and sanding. Gives a seamless face with no edge band lines, in any colour.

• Best for: designer shutters, grooved or CNC-cut panels, mandir units, TV back panels.
• Watch for: needs a skilled painter and a dust-free space; takes days; the hardener's fumes need good ventilation and masks during spraying. High gloss shows scratches and fingerprints.
• Board: MDF in dry rooms, HDHMR where there's moisture: HDHMR vs plywood, MDF vs plywood.

Duco

An older painted finish, cheaper than PU. Looks similar when new, but it's softer and can yellow or chip sooner. Some painters offer a "PU-duco" mix; ask what goes into each coat.

Acrylic

Factory-made glossy sheets pressed on board. Mirror gloss with fewer steps than PU. Shows fine scratches and fingerprints. Full comparison: acrylic vs laminate for the kitchen and acrylic sheets.

Veneer with polish

A thin slice of real wood on plywood, then polished (melamine or PU). Natural grain, warm look, each sheet unique. Keep it away from constant water. See decorative veneer.

Enamel paint

Brushed, rolled or sprayed; the cheapest painted finish. Good for doors, chaukhats and simple furniture; not as hard as PU. Some homeowners do it themselves.

Which finish where

Furniture	Good choice
Kitchen shutters (family use)	Laminate, or acrylic for gloss
Kitchen shutters (designer look)	PU on HDHMR
Bedroom wardrobe	Laminate; veneer for a wood look
Mandir, TV back panel, grooved panels	PU on MDF or HDHMR
Doors	Laminate, veneer + polish, or enamel
Shop counters	Laminate (hard-wearing)

FAQ

Which is better, PU or laminate? For daily wear and budget, laminate. For a seamless designer look and any colour, PU.

Is duco the same as PU? No. Duco is an older, cheaper paint system; PU is harder and lasts longer.

Can PU be done on plywood? Plywood's surface isn't smooth enough for a good PU finish. Use MDF or HDHMR, or veneer on plywood with PU polish.

Which finish is best for a kitchen? Laminate or acrylic for daily cooking; PU on HDHMR if you want a painted look and will take care of it.

Nitin Plywood House, Alipur

We stock laminates, acrylic, veneer, MDF, HDHMR, plywood and edge band, so you can see the finishes side by side at the counter. Call +91-9212017608 for today's stock and rate; delivery all over Delhi. See laminates, MDF and HDHMR.